234 ANAS GLACIALIS. 



from the singularity of its cry, something imitative of 

 the sound of those words, and also, that, when very 

 clamorous, they are supposed to betoken a southerly 

 wind ; on the coast of New Jersey, they are usually 

 called old wives. They are chiefly salt water ducks, 

 and seldom ramble far from the sea. They inhabit our 

 bays and coasts during the winter only ; are rarely 

 found in the marshes, but keep in the channel, diving 

 for small shell-fish, which are their principal food. In 

 passing 1 to and from the bays, sometimes in vast flocks, 

 particularly towards evening, their loud and confused 

 noise may be heard in calm weather at the distance 

 of several miles. They fly very swiftly, take short 

 excursions, and are lively restless birds. Their native 

 regions are in the north, where great numbers of them 

 remain during the whole year; part only of the vast 

 family migrating south to avoid the severest rigours of 

 that climate. They are common to the whole northern 

 hemisphere. In the Orkneys, they are met with in 

 considerable flocks, from October to April; frequent 

 in Sweden, Lapland, and Russia ; are often found about 

 St Petersburg, and also in Kamtschatka. Are said to 

 breed at Hudson's Bay, making their nest among the 

 grass near the sea, like the older duck, and about the 

 middle of June, lay from ten to fourteen bluish white 

 eggs, the size of those of a pullet. When the young 

 are hatched, the mother carries them to the water in 

 her bill. The nest is lined with the down of her breast, 

 which is accounted equally valuable with that of the 

 eider duck, were it to be had in the same quantity.* 

 They are hardy birds, and excellent divers. Are not 

 very common in England, coming there only in very 

 severe winters ; and then but in small straggling parties ; 

 yet are found on the coast of America as far south at 

 least, as Charleston, in Carolina, during the winter. 

 Their flesh is held in no great estimation, having a fishy 

 taste. The down and plumage, particularly on the 

 breast and lo\ver parts of the body, are very abundant, 

 and appear to be of the best quality. 

 * LATHAM. 



